RIP Mark Moore

I've been wanting to write about this for the past week but I just couldn't find the words to say- I think I've been in something of a state of shock about it all. Just over a week ago, I logged into my facebook to see my sisters status staring at me. "....please pray for my family. my cousin was murdered by an escaped convict. my thoughts are with the Moore family." at first, it didn't register with me. I thought she was talking about one of the cousins on her mom's side perhaps. So I called my dad and told him that it might be a good idea for him to give them a call and make sure every thing's okay. He reminded me that his sister's last name was Moore while we were on the phone, but that he'd call and find out what was going on. He calls me back shortly afterwards and explains to me that the cousin that's been murdered is his nephew by his youngest sister- Mark was my cousin too. And even though I didn't know Mark growing up, he's still my family. I went numb. I started searching google for articles about the murder. Both my aunt, sister and cousins had the same idea and we've been sharing articles and information with each other through facebook.

I found a few of them- They said that Mark had been staying in Michigan on work related business, and that his killer, Jack Jacqmain, had escaped from a mental institution that he'd been court ordered to after violating his parole repeatedly. He supposedly suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and the Michigan State Justice system has admitted that they are at fault for letting Jacqmain be able to get out by transferring him to a less secure hospital that he was able to walk away from. He was arrested in '92 for bank robbery and was considered dangerous. He was released in 2005 on parole before being caught in Tennessee in 2006 for violating his parole and again in 2008 in Missouri. He then violated his parole again in Grand Rapids earlier this year and reportedly brought a knife to a parole meeting.

The police never really released the details of what exactly happened to the news or our family. All we know at this current time is that Mark was stabbed more than a dozen times in the stomach while he was on the phone to his wife and his cousin was in the shower at the Motel during the time of the attack. It's believed that it was a random attack and that Mark was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. He's survived by his wife and young daughter- he was only 31.

I spoke to my Aunt on Sunday night who told me about him- how they'd come down from Indiana every other week during the summer to visit her and spend time on their boat. He was a good christian man who loved the lord and called his parents every week to tell them he loved them and update them on his day to day life. After all that she told me, I'm truly sorry that I never got to know him. He sounds like someone I would've got along well with and could've really loved. I know that during this time, there's nothing that will comfort her and bring her son back but I did the best I could. I feel awful that we were unable to get to Seymour, IN last Tuesday for Mark's funeral but we sent flowers and the family knows that if they need anything, we're just a phone call away.

Wednesday afternoon, I checked my facebook to find an article posted from one of my other cousins saying that Jacqmain had been caught in Missouri. He was originally arrested for loitering behind a 7-11, however when he was being booked his prints showed up in the database with a parole violation and the accused murder of Mark. He's currently being held in Missouri but it appears there seems to be some issues with his extradition due to budget problems in Michigan.

There's nothing left for us to do now except grieve and allow justice to run its course. It still feels like I'm watching a movie play out in front of me. It's all very surreal. You never expect it to happen to you and your family. It's something that you see on TV, or something that happens to other people. And I know Mark wouldn't want us to upset and helpless, but rather to search for justice and avenge his death through legal pathways. Personally, I'm all for vigilante justice to this scumbag bastard. They should give him to me- those voices in his head would be welcomed after the hell I would put him through. I'm all for stringing him up by his thumbnails and torturing him with rats, necrotic venoms, and medieval torture devices for the next year before executing him the same way he killed Mark. I'm sure his sister, Stacia would be more than happy to help me. There are so many questions that no one seems to be able to answer for us yet- why hadn't the motel called the police to deal with the complaints against Jacqmain? How did he pay for the room? How could he travel to Missouri? How was he able to overwhelm Mark? After all, Mark was a strong, young man- 6ft4 and 230lbs. There's just so much that we have yet to learn about the whole thing but at least we know he's safe now. He's watching over us and spending time with Grandma and Grandpa. Rest In Peace Mark. You'll always be in our hearts.

Uncle Dave & Aunt Bobby (Mark's Parents) Stacia & Warren (his sister and brother in law) Mark & Jarrin, and Lori & Keith (our cousin).

Kyilah (Lori's daughter) and her uncle Mark

Mark and his daughter Kiley.

A trust fund has been set up in honor of Mark's death to help Kiley and his wife, Jarrin. If you wish to donate, you can do so at any branch of the fifth-third bank. It's under Jarrin Moore or the Benefit of Mark Moore's Death. We appreciate you supporting our family and while Kiley knows that Daddy will never come home to her again, she also knows that he will always be with us in spirit.